In a recent legal battle, a daughter contested the terms of her late father’s will, which left her a minimal inheritance of £250 due to being described as “bad tempered” and failing in her “sense of duty.” Laxmikant Patel, who passed away at 85 in October 2021, bequeathed his £600,000 home to his eldest daughter, Anju Patel, while allotting only £250 each to his younger daughter, Bhavenetta Stewart-Brown, and son, Piyush Patel. However, Bhavenetta challenged the will in court and successfully secured her rightful portion of the £600,000 estate.
Anju, aged 58, asserted that her father’s decision to disinherit two of his children stemmed from growing mistrust, believing they were solely interested in his assets rather than showing genuine care. She claimed that her father felt neglected by Bhavenetta and Piyush, stating they lacked “true affection” and had failed in their responsibilities. Laxmikant’s final will, created in August 2021, faced scrutiny in the High Court in London, with Bhavenetta raising concerns about its validity and the circumstances surrounding its drafting.
The court ruling favored Bhavenetta, upholding the previous 2019 will that divided the estate more equally among the children and a charitable trust. Deputy Master Jason Raeburn deemed the 2021 will as suspect due to flawed execution, including discrepancies in witness signatures and doubts regarding Laxmikant’s approval of its contents.
Laxmikant, an industrious man who migrated from Uganda in the 1970s, left behind a legacy shaped by hard work and devotion to his family. His estate primarily consisted of a £600,000 property in Harrow, which was solely inherited by Anju in the contested will. Allegations surfaced suggesting that Anju’s influence on her father’s religious beliefs and her control over his affairs raised doubts about the authenticity of the final will.
The legal battle highlighted contrasting accounts of family dynamics, with Anju portraying a close relationship with her parents, while Bhavenetta’s legal team argued that Anju’s influence had isolated their father and distorted his intentions. Ultimately, the court invalidated the 2021 will, citing irregularities in its execution and questioning Laxmikant’s true intentions amidst family discord and health challenges.